The Tomorrow People: 120 “A Sort of Homecoming” Review

We have now reached that point in the series where things start to drastically change. The series finale is imminent and it this episode which sets the scene and steers the narrative into its end phase. Last week’s episode was probably the weakest of the lot, which is unfortunate given its position in the series. After a bit of deliberation I have decided that the issue with the episode was that its predecessors had been so good having a much faster pace and a sense of revelation about them. This meant last week’s episode was always going to be perceived badly given its nature. Thankfully the series kicks back into gear with another stellar episode.

The narrative picks up right where the last episode ended with the focus heavily on Roger and a will he/won’t he situation about his recovery. It isn’t hard to guess where the story goes and it isn’t long before Roger is back on his feet again. So what does this mean for the story? As I’m sure we are all aware (how could we forget given the opening monologue emphasises it every week) the goal of the Tomorrow People has been to find Roger who will lead them to the Refuge.

If you are expecting a strong advance in the narrative on that part, you may be disappointed as it is not until the later part of the episode that we get any indications as to what the Founder’s plans are, and how Roger fits into them. The episode presents a common theme of bad choices and how the characters try to rectify them. Most of these decisions centre around Roger which is unsurprising as you would expect him to be established as a likeable character given his role as a main protagonist in the final stages of the show.

The early part of the narrative follows his adaption back into normal life, with a specific focus on his relationships with his family whom he abandoned, and John who he (with Jedikiah) manipulated into killing him. Both Rogers mistakes come back to haunt him within this narrative as we see the impact they have had, with his return bringing these feelings to the fore. This results in disastrous consequences for one character whose attempt at rectifying things see them fall victim to a trap that was intended for someone else.

Jedikiah plays a major role within the episode and this time is presented more as a protagonist and it is evident of the trust between him and Roger. Jedikiah’s character development so far has been one of the strongpoints of the series and I for one am glad to see him come this far. Although one must still wonder can a leopard change his spots so easily? I doubt Jedikiah’s story is done; I just have no idea where it is going.

The final uniting theme for the episode is loyalty. The dynamic of the Tomorrow People in this story is a rather interesting one as Roger’s return receives a somewhat mixed response. This test allegiances within the group and see some members place themselves in a potentially dangerous situation. The other storyline focuses on Hillary who finds herself torn between Ultra (her employers) and Stephen (her boyfriend). It turns into a classic scenario of head over heart which sees Hillary succumb to external influences, particularly that of Astrid. Hillary has always been a strong ambitious character, so it’s no shock that her final decision is to pursue her ultimate ambition.

The story concludes on a breath-taking denouement which you honestly will not see coming. Everything is set in place for the finale: the Founder’s plan is revealed, the war against Ultra is back in full flow and the future of several pivotal characters is left up in the air.

Verdict: 9/10

The episode is a little slow to get going, but when it does it’s a cracker. It does exactly what it needs to do whilst setting up the conclusion to the series perfectly. There are twists and unexpected turns in a narrative which remains tense from the point where it truly gets going. The stakes are raised and the characters stretched to their limits. Pretty much everything which is required from the episode which sets up what I’m assuming will be almost a two part finale.